Bag clamp



Feb. 9, 1943.l 4 c. E. ANDERSON l 2,310,827.

r BAG CLAMP Filed Dec. 9, 1941 Patented Feb. 9, 1943 BAG CLAMP Charles Edwin Anderson, Narberth, Pa., assignor of one-half to William H. Jeeries, Moylan,

Application December 9, 1941, Serial No. 422,227

(Cl. .Z4-30.5)

18 Claims.

My invention relates to clamps for the otherwise open ends of bags to prevent loss or interference with the contents of the bags except with injury to the bags which will disclose the fact of interference.

One purpose of the invention is to slide longitudinally inter-locking straps or bars, one upon the other, to a final holding position.

A further purpose is to slide longitudinally interlocking straps orbars, oneupon the other, latching them together in final fastening position so as to require more pressure to overcome the resistance, to release the latch and open the clamp than is likely to be applied in normal operation.

A further purpose is to hold one end each of two slidable and separable straps together while permitting sliding clamping and release movement by head and slot connection and slidingly inter-lock the other ends by a slot and pin connection.

A further purpose is to secure two separable sliding strap members of a clamp together by sliding longitudinal engagementl and to use a lock in one of them to prevent sliding release movement between the parts.

Further purposes will appear in the specifications and in the claims.

I have preferred to illustrate a single form only, using a form which is practical, effective, reliable and inexpensive and which at the same time Well illustrates the principles of the invention.

Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of one form of my clamp showing the straps in different positions of relative longitudinal movement of the parts.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of one end of a clamp showing the parts in released position, f

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section of the structure of Figure 3 taken upon line 4 4 Vand showing parts at the end released.

Figure 5 is a View identical with Figure 4 except that parts at the end shown as in released position in Figure 4 are shown in closed position in Figure 5.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of the ends of two clamp straps showing a modified form of clamp. f

Figure 7 is a section of Figure 6 taken upon line 1 1.

Figure 8 is a perspective of a closed bag having the folded top of the bag within the clamp.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the structure of Figures l and 2 showing two positions.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary enlargement corresponding to Figure 9 in closed position.

In the drawing similar numerals indicate like parts. 3

I am using the words bight, bighting, etc., in a special sense, referring to an impingement of the shoulders against the surface of the adjoining strap ll at such an angle that the bighting edge tends to grip the surface and hold against sliding movement along strap Il. The notches setting olf the head are amply wide (lengthwise of the strap) to permit sliding-and there is no engagement of the wings of the T-head with the strap ll during the bighting impingement of the shoulders. This appears in Figure 10.

Bags of course require fastening of their folded open ends after filling. Usually cords or pins, or cords and pins are used but metal clamps are better and can be applied quickly and released instantly. In many dye plants the folded end of the bag is -tied in a knot, requiring an excessive bag length for the knot. My invention is suitable generally for temporary closure and has been found very useful, for example, for the bags within which stockings are held while being dyed and by which as containers they are handled subsequent to the dyeing operation.

In the case of the stockings, much injury is done at the present time to the stockings through the use of pins ofithe general blanket pin type which must pierce the fabric of the bag near the mouth and sometimes also pierce the stockings. The value of Nylon stockings is greater than the value of silk stockings and the loss from piercing the stockings is therefore increased where the stockings are of Nylon and the percentage of stockings made from Nylon is increasing: with the result V-that theselection of a proper clamp to close the mouth of the bag, always material, is now much increasing in importance.

The present invention is intended not only to close the top of the bag without impaling the bag nor any of its contents but affords a convenient means of locking the parts of the clamp against release movement.

The clamp illustrated comprises two longitudinally slidable bars or straps which are secured to each other at adjacent ends so as not to interfere with relative longitudinal movement of the straps and which have co-operating slot engagements, the connection at the left end in the figure producing a pivot, separable and movable longitudinally without losing the pivot. I provide a slot and pin spring-engaged co-operating connection at the other end. The two bars or straps l and II are relatively bowed between to leave room for them to grip on opposite sides against the folded fabric of a bag I2, adjacent to the open end of the bag.

The straps or bars I and II are used together and are bowed to surround the folded fabric of the bag. One of the straps, such as strap I I can be the same for all forms within a considerable range of bag size and different straps II! can be used with it, bearing different identifying data as to stocking size, for example.

Assuming that the strap II is to form the base upon which strap I pivots and slides, the

strap II terminates in a closed slot I3 at theleft in the gures and the strap Itl is notched at its left end at I4 so as to provide ahead I5 which, when the strap I D has been turned a quarter turn, as compared with Figure 8, can be passed through the slot and turned to the posi tion indicated in Figure 8 to join the straps or, subsequently can be turned when they are to be separated. In the positions of the various figures the neck I 'can be slid longitudinally within the closed slot, providing movable pivotal connection between the straps. The head I in released position is free to engage against the under sideV I 'I of the convex outer surface of strap II at the closed slot, holding the parts at theoppos'ite sides of slot I3, against detachment at that end of the clamp, that is, at the left end, as shown in Figure 8, of its gripping engagementwith a folded bag.

The two straps enclose a larger cross sectional space in their closed but not latched position (see dotted lines in Figure 9) than in their latched' position (seen in full lines in Figure 9).

At the opposite right side of the bag in Figure 8 the opposite and otherwise free ends of the two straps slope relatively, forwardly and toward each other at I8 and I9-so as to provide a rearwardly flared space at permitting pinching of the central parts of the straps at 2I and 22 toward? each other, partly or fully closing the angular space 20' between them.

The end of the strap I0 is slotted lengthwise at 23 and is open at the end of the slot yand of the strap atf24 so as to pass beneath the head 25 of a pin 26 rigidly secured in the end 21 of the strap II.

Withthe closed slot end of strap I I and the neck of strap I0 together the open slot end of I0 will not pass under the head of the pin in strap I without pressure of the two straps bodily toward each other, springing' the straps somewhat together and taking up part of the space .i

at 2l) provided between the straps bythe slope at I3 and. I9 of the surface of the strap IS at the slot with respect toV the adjoining surface of strap II.

The slope', causing convergence toward the ends of the? straps, is reduced vas a result of the spring of the metal as the slotted' portion slides under tlie head of the pin.

When the pressure upon straps toward each other is removed (the pin and open slot being in latched or clamp-closed position or nearly that position) there remains a resilient pressure of the open-slot wall against the under side of the head of the pin and a resultant resilient pressure of the opposite ends of the straps', (the closed slot and T-head ends) against each other causing the shoulders back of the T-hea-d to bear aginst the concave (inner) Wall of the strap II at opposite sidesrof the closed slot.

Another use made of the continuing resilient pressure between the walls of the open slot and the under face of the pin, while still maintaining spring pressure between the parts lengthwise of the pin is to provide the spring to make effective a rest or dwell 30 into which the head 25 is snapped when the open slot has been pressed home lengthwise fully against the pin. This rest is provided by slightly recessing the metal at 3| and the metal of` the straps has to be sprung transversely together somewhat to permit the slot at the end of strap I0 to travel the length of the slot, to a point where the head ts into the rest or seat about the inner end of the slot. The spring of the straps toward each other also' in closed position presses the T-head away from the convex surface about the closed slot.

As a result of the snap of the parts in the final position, the straps are additionally restrained against relative longitudinal movement until the middle parts of the two straps are sprung slightly toward each other preliminary to moving the one strap Il! longitudinally along the other in release. Coincidently the shoulders adjacent the T-head are withdrawn from binding engagement against the concave faces of the side walls about the closed slot.

In the main illustration the sides 28 and 23 of the open-ended slot 23 are chamfered so as to flare away from the strap I0 and the under side of the head of the pin is similarly tapered to nare upwardly toward the head.

In Figures 6 and 7 the slot 23 is not chamfered along its edges but is parallel-edged to fit undera straight-shanked head. The head drops into a slight countersink 3D when the head and the countersunk portion of the slot register.

In all forms the ends of the straps approach each other at I8 and I 9 at a slight angle 32, giving this much angular room for the spring bending of one strap toward the other while the head and slot are being moved relatively lengthwise of the slot during closing or release of the clamp.

When the straps have been fully closed, the

i position seen in Figure 8, they may be locked against relative movement by insertion of the shackle 33 of a padlock within the outer end of the closed slot.

One or both of the straps is or are provided with edgel prongs or other engaging devices which are shown at 34 in the figures. Their purpose is to roughen the edge so as to engage the fabric of the bag and to prevent the fabric from being pulled through the clamp. The prongs are oneway engaging devices, i. e. prongs on one edge prevent movement of the fabric toward the edge of the particular strap and the prongs on the other edge retain the fabric against movement toward the other edge of the strap.

In the illustration the prongs are triangular and are stamped from the outside edges of the straps, the side lines of the prongs being cut free but the base lines of the prongs remaining in the straps.

During the stamping operation the prongs can be relatively sharpened by slightly forging the ends of the prongs so as to make them thinner and relatively sharper, sharpening the ends of the prongs so as to make them hold well against the fabric, preferably without piercing beyond the thickness of the fabric.

Where the prongs are not sharpened, of course, the prongs are merely bent downward about the base linesof the prongs as approximate pivots and the end of each prong which was formerly in the side wall of the 'strap thenY extends at right' angles to thedirection'of the length of fthe'prong in the particular position to which the end of the lprong has been swung.

Each of the .straps is roughened to givethe nger or thumb of the operator a good grip upon it vso that less eort need be used relatively to move the straps. This is shown inserrations 35 and is particularly'helpful where soap is present.

It will be evident that the concave'curvature of theinner surface of strap Il, where the shoulders ofst'rap I0 engage, facilitates release of the hold at the left end of the one strap upon the other when the head is pulled to the left at the Sametime that the bowed central part of strap I is pulled toward the left.

When theone strap is moved lengthwise of the' other to set the clamp the enclosed fabric is compressed, as will be clear from Figure '9,1 and the resistance to compression of the fab-ric provides a. resilient reaction .tending to release the clamp and also tending to press the prongs and the fabric together.

It will be evident that the longitudinal movement of the head ofthe one strap within the closed slot of the otherperforms many functions. Itpivots the parts at1that end of the fastener, and at the same time it permits longitudinal movement of the one strap with respect to the other-without interfering with the pivotal ,connection.

The longitudinal movement reduces the space Within the straps and thus progressively compresses the fabric. By the wedging of the open slot face walls beneath the head the shoulders adjacent the T-head bind against the concave face of thexwalls about the closed slot and on release the shoulders move along the inner curve of the slot Wall to relieve this binding engagement and to' permit opening more easily than otherwise would be the case. The end of the closed slot provides forlocking of the parts against release by the shackle of the padlock.

It will be evident that the slot and pin ends of the two straps o'er not only guidance and retention during the longitudinal movement of one of the straps with respect to the other but by the springing away from each other and the rest into which the pin head ts Vin final position they hold` the parts closed against release until springing of the bowed parts of the straps toward each other releases the transverse springlpressure opposing movement.

; In operation, the fact that the material of the bag is and must be considerably compressed to f hold it against being slid out from between the, straps results in a reaction resilient pressure of the folded bag material tending to force'one strap directly away from the other.

` This reaction expansion of the bag material would have a tendency to press the outer edges 36 of the under sides of the Wings 3l of the T- head against the outer convex surfaces 38 of the` side frames 39 of the closed slot, freeing both inside and outside edges 4E! and 4I of shoulders 42, adjacent the T-head from engagement with the concave inner faces 43 of the frame 39. However, the pressure of the under surface of the head 25 upon the inner end of the open slot at the rest forces bar I0 toward bar II in spite of the reaction pressure of the compressed bag material.

As a result the inner edges 40 engage with the inside faces 43 of the side frames, bighting against the interior faces of the two side frames.

This offers considerable resistance to Vopening movement.. I emphasizer it by' forming grooves or recesses 44 across the inner surfaces of the frames, into which grooves these inner edges of the shoulders fit.

In order to release'the clamp most easily, in the best form of my invention the middle parts of the two clamp straps are pressed toward each other in order to relieve the pressure holding the head 25 within the rest or dwell at the inner end of the open slot, so as to relieve the hold this rest has upon the open slot end of clamp strap pin. i

At the same time that the straps are sprung generally toward each other, the T-head I5 is pushed transversely of the strap I I to release the impingent of the shoulders and is pulled toward the left in Figure 8, lifting the shoulders away from or out of, their bighting engagement with the concave faces of the side frame. This is true whether the bight be accentuated by grooves in the side frames or not.

In this way the release is prepared for by a combination of springing the straps toward each other at the middle or .near the open slot end and forcing them away from each other at the closed slot end. The roughening of the straps is very helpful in holding therclamp for the pinching action at the c-pen slot end also for friction when sliding the straps with respect to each other afterV the rest engagement and the bight have been relieved. I

It will be evident that the tendency of the straps to spring away from each other, restrained atV the open slot end by the under Vsurface of the head of the pin, affords what might be termed a latch hold of the parts through the snapping of the head into a slight recess when the open slot and pinare relatively home and that this may be made to assist the bight impingement in holding the parts together, and may occur at the same position of the parts as the position at which the shoulders back of the T-head engage within the grooveY across theclosed slot. However the bight itself is fully effective to hold the clamp against movement even if no rest be provided and no groove.

The independent effectiveness of the means at' each end has been tested out by placing the groove slightly toward the closed end of the slot from the position'at which the straps are home, as shown, so that the strap may be shifted slightly releasing the pin and rest engagement before the shoulders drop into the groove. Grooves may be used, inboth positions lengthwise of the strap. This allows partial opening before the shoulders will drop into the second groove and allows the retaining effect of the rest and head of pin, as one holding means and the shoulders and concave surface and/or groove as another holding means to Vbe appraised. Each proved to be effective alone without the use of the other and the use of the rest and head along with the groove give corresponding additional security.

In opening the clamp the straps are pressed together at the right hand end c-f the figures by squeezing them together at the middle and by concurrently pushing the T-head transversely to the strap/I I to separate the straps at the left hand end shifting the straps relatively while both holds are thus released either by pushing on strap' IIJ lengthwise to the left or pulling upon the T-head to the left (against the closed end of slot 23) or both. Y

In view of my invention and disclosure varia-A tions and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident toV others skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore claim all such in so far as they fall Within the reasonable spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a clamp for the open ends of bags a pair of bowed straps of resilient material having opening and closing movement with respect to each other generally lengthwise of the straps, and terminals upon the straps providing for head and slot pivotal connections at one end and pin and open end slot engagement between the other ends of the straps.

2. In a clamp for the open ends of bags, a pair of bowed straps of resilient sheet material having opening and closing movement with respect to each other generally lengthwise of the straps, a T-head and closed slot pivotal and longitudinally movable connection between the straps at one end and an overhanging pin and open end slot connection between the straps at their opposite ends.

3. In a clamp for the open ends of bags, a pair of bowed straps of resilient material having opening and closing movement with respect to each other generally lengthwise of the straps, a T-head and slot pivotal and longitudinally movable connection between the straps at one end, a headed pin and open end slot connecting the opposite ends, the bowing of the straps away from each other exerting a lateral pressure between the straps against the head of the pin at the inner end of the second slot in closed clamp position.

4. In a clamp for the open ends of bags, a pair of bowed straps of resilient material having opening and closing movement with respect to each other generally lengthwise of the straps, a T- head and closed slot pivotally movable connection between the straps at one end, a longitudinally movable connection at the opposite ends, and a padlock having its shackle passed through the first slot to prevent release movement of the T- head in this slot.

5. In a clamp for the open ends of bags, a pair of bowed straps of resilient material having opening and closing movement with respect to each other generally lengthwise of the straps, a T-head and slot pivotal longitudinally movable connection between the straps at one end and a headed pin and open end slot connecting the opposite ends, the second slot member having a dwell in which the head of a pin is held by resilience of the bowed straps away from each other when the clamp is in closed position.

6. In a clamp for the open ends of bags, a pair of bowed straps of resilient material having opening and closing movement with respect to each other generally lengthwise of the straps, a T-head and slot pivotally and longitudinaly movable connection between the straps at one end, and a headed pin and end slot connecting the opposite ends, the strap at the rst slot being concaved toward the other strap, whereby the T-head ofv the other strap is accessible along a convex opposite surface of the first strap to assist in releasing the clamp.

7'. In a clamp for the open ends of bags, a pair of bowed straps of resilient material having open-` ing and closing movement with respect to each other generally lengthwise of the straps, a T-head and slot pivotally and longitudinally movable connection between thestraps at one end, and headed pin and end slot connecting the opposite ends, the strap at the rst slot being concaved toward the other strap, whereby the T-head of the other strap is accessible along the convex opposite surface of the first strap to assist in releasing the fastener, and the spring of the bowed straps tighten walls of the second slot against the under surface of the pin.

8. In a clamp for the open ends of bags, a pair of bowed straps of resilient material whose concave surfaces face each other having opening and closing movement with respect to each other generally lengthwise of the straps, slot and pin fastenngs for the straps, at one end forcing the other ends of the straps toward each other and causing pressure contact between them, at which other end sliding engagement takes place.

9. In a clamp for the open ends of bags, a pair of bowed straps of resilient material having opening and closing movement with respect to each other generally lengthwise of the straps, and terminals upon the straps providing head and slot pivotal connections at one end and pin and open end slot engagement between the other ends of the straps and engaging prongs carried by the straps and pressed into contact with the material of the bag, extending perpendicular to the direction of the relative movement of the straps.

10. In a clamp for the open ends of bags, a pair of bowed straps of resilient material having opening and closing movement with respect to each other generally lengthwise of the straps, a T-head and slot pivotally movable connection between the straps at one end, and a slot connection at the opposite ends, prongs extending inwardly from the one strap toward the other in planes perpendicular to the path of relative longitudinal movement of the straps to engage the bag material against lengthwise bag movement while permitting sliding movement of one strap with respect to the other in fastening and release sliding movement.

11. A clamp comprising opposed oppositely bowed straps having each a slot and a member extending into the slot of the other, in open position pivoting one upon the other and having a smaller cross section of space between the straps in fully closed position than in partially closed position.

12. In a clamp, a pair of bowed straps having respectively at one end, one strap longitudinally slotted and the other necked to provide a head and adjacent shoulders, and at the second end longitudinally movable engaging faces, the straps being sloped toward each other at this second end and, when engaged, pressing the straps toward each other, to cause the shoulders at the first end to bight into the facing surface of the strap about the adjacent slot.

13. In a clamp, a pair of bowed straps comprising, respectively, one strap having a closed slot in the one end and a headed pin on the concave side of the strap at the other end and the other strap necked to provide a head capable of passing through the closed slot and shoulders to bight against the side about the closed slot on the concave side of the strap, and at the other end an open ended slot adapted to be sprung under the head of the pin, whereby the springing of the strap to locate the slot walls under the head of the pin causes bightlng of the shoulders.

14. In a clamp, a pair of bowed straps comprising, respectively, one strap having a closed slot in the one end and a headed pin on the concave side of the strap and the other strap necked to provide a head capable of passing through the closed slot and shoulders to bight against the sides of the closed slot on the concave side of the strap and at the other end an open ended slot adapted to be sprung under the head of the pin whereby the springing of the strap to pass its end under the head of the pin causes bighting of the shoulder, the face of the concave side of the closed slot being grooved to accentuate the bight and the head being accessible on the convex side of the slot to pull toward the outer end of the slot in order to disengage the bight.

15. In a clamp, a pair of facing bowed straps having each a longitudinal slot at one end and a head in position to enter the slot of the other strap, the slot in one strap being closed and the head of the second, cooperating with it having shoulders adjacent the head, the relation of the head on the first strap to the second strap slot being such that the bowed straps must be sprung toward each other to cause engagement of the head and slot, and whereby the shoulders on the second strap are forced by the springing of the straps toward each other to impinge upon the adjacent surface of the first strap at the slot to hold the parts against longitudinal movement.

16. In a clamp, a pair of facing bowed straps comprising one strap having a closed longitudinal slot at one end whose walls are concave toward the other strap and a headed pin directed toward the second strap at the opposite end and a second strap having :a T-head at one end to pass through the closed slot, with shoulders adjacent the T-end to engage the concave surface, and at the other end of the second strap an open ended longitudinal slot and a dwell for the head of the pin when the parts are in home position, the relation of the straps being such that when the straps are in closed position they are sprung toward each other by the engagement of the head of the pin with the second strap, the first strap cooperating with the shoulders to hold the parts.

17. In a clamp, a pair of facing bowed straps comprising one strap having a closed longitudinal slot at one end Whose walls are concave toward the other strap and a headed pin directed toward the second strap at the opposite end and a second strap having a T-head at one end to pass through the closed slot, with shoulders adjacent the T-end to engage the concave surface, and at the other end of the second strap an open ended longitudinal slot and a dwell for the head of the pin when the parts are in home position, the relation of the straps being such that when the straps are in closed position they are sprung toward each other by the engagement of the head of the pin with the second strap, the rst strap cooperating with the shoulders to hold the parts, the hold being accentuated by a groove in the rst strap and the accentuation taking place coincidentally with the fitting of the head of the pin into the dwell.

18. In a clamp, a pair of facing bowed straps comprising one strap having a closed longitudinal slot at one end whose walls are concave toward the other strap and a headed pin directed toward the second strap at the opposite end and the second strap having a T-head at one end to pass through the closed slot, with shoulders adjacent the T-end to engage the concave surface, `and at the other end of the second strap an open ended longitudinal slot and a dwell for the head of the pin when the parts are in home position, the relation of the straps being such that when the straps are in closed position they are sprung toward each other by the engagement of the head of the pin with the second strap, the rst strap cooperating with the shoulders to hold the parts, the hold being accentuated by a groove in the first strap and the accentuation taking place when the straps have been shifted partly toward opening position from the engagement of the head with the dwell.

CHARLES EDWIN ANDERSON. 

